Trip Highlights:
As many of our local guides will tell you, some of their first and most powerful experiences in Yosemite National Park were on classic, multi-day camping/hiking trips. The convenience of camping in a car-friendly site gives the opportunity to venture out daily to see the different landscapes, views, and vistas in every corner of this magnificent park.
Our Classic Camping/Hiking Adventure is a traditional way of visiting Yosemite without the “roughing-it” experience of a backpacking trip. We will shuttle out daily from our campsite, with daypacks and lunch in hand, to our selected hiking destinations. As the #1 guide service in Yosemite, our tours highlight a variety of iconic and popular features throughout the park as well as some of the lesser known gems. We will hike to the top of giant waterfalls, along glacially polished granite, through alpine meadows full of wildflowers, and past giant sequoia trees. We will stand atop granite domes and reach the top of a major summit. Along the way, your professional and knowledgeable guide will share the history of Yosemite as well as information about the geology, natural history, plants, and animals of the area.
Every night you will stay in a comfortable campsite. We will provide all of the required camping gear. You can leave the cooking to our experienced outdoor guides, known for providing tasty and satisfying meals. The night will come to an end with stories and laughter around the campfire. S’mores are on us.
This is a great Yosemite multi-day tour that caters to families and hikers of all skill levels. This is a top-choice for first-timers to Yosemite.
In addition to our published dates, you can contact us about planning other dates/packages ranging from at least three days in length.
NOTE: Classic Camping Dates remain tentative until we secure campsites, which we typically obtain approximately 5 months in advance. If campsites are unavailable in the popular Yosemite Valley, we will utilize other campsites within Yosemite and/or the adjoining National Forests, and adjusting the itinerary accordingly.
Length
Price
Per Person
Dates below remain tentative until we confirm camping reservations approximately 5 months in advance.
Should Yosemite reservations be required, participation in Lasting Adventures programs, trips, and/or tours includes entry when reservations are needed
All dates remain tentative until permitted 5 months in advance. Please remain from making travel arrangements outside of this timeline. We will contact you if we are unsuccessful in obtaining your dates. Feel free to contact us if you would like to confirm. If you don’t see dates available, contact us to inquire about a Private Classic Camping adventure.
This is a Sample Itinerary only.
Day 1:Â Yosemite Valley
You will meet your guide at Curry Village at 2 p.m. This will be followed by group orientation and introductions. After getting settled in the campsite, the group will partake in an afternoon stroll of the eastern side of the Yosemite Valley. Dinner and campfire in the campsite as time allows. Total Mileage: 4-6 miles
Day 2:Â Mist Trail
After a hearty breakfast, we will shuttle to the Happy Isles trailhead to hike the famous Mist Trail. This hike gets you right up next to two of Yosemite’s most well-known waterfalls, Vernal and Nevada Falls, and along the eastern edge of the aptly named Panorama Cliff. You will complete your loop and return to the valley via the famous John Muir Trail, offering new perspectives of the waterfalls you just hiked beside. Following the hike we will catch the shuttle back to our campsite for dinner and relaxation. Total Mileage: 7.2 miles
Day 3: Mariposa Grove, Glacier Point & Sentinel Dome
After an early breakfast, we will head to the Mariposa Grove to beat the morning crowds. The Mariposa Grove is the largest grove of giant sequoias in the park. After completing the 2-mile Grizzly Giant Loop, we will return to our vehicle and head towards Glacier Point, stopping at the Yosemite History Center & Pioneer Village in Wawona for lunch. Once at Glacier Point, we will take in the views and history of this famous landmark. From Glacier Point we will hike to the summit of Sentinel Dome at 8,122’ for incredible 360-degree views. Total Mileage: 5.0 miles
Day 4:Â Mt. Hoffman & May Lake
After a hearty breakfast, we will shuttle to the May Lake parking lot where we will have the option to summit Mt. Hoffman at 10,850’. This is the geographical center of Yosemite as well as John Muir’s favorite view in all of Yosemite. On our way back, we will have a chance to take a dip in May Lake. As time permits we will shuttle into Tuolumne Meadows for a quick overview, and perhaps, another amazing sunset opportunity. We will share a warm cooked meal around the campfire when we return back to camp. Total Mileage: 6.0 miles
Day 5:Â Self-Guided Tour
During breakfast your guide will present some options for a self-guided tour on your way out of Yosemite such as further exploration within the Yosemite Valley, a visit to the Tuolumne Grove of Sequoias (Hwy 120-west), a visit to Tuolumne Meadows (Hwy 120-east), or further exploration of the Pioneer Village & Wawona along Hwy 41 south. Plan to leave the campsite by 10 a.m.
Your participation helps sustain our non-profit mission of supporting youth, families, and disadvantaged communities with positive experiences in America’s National Parks and natural spaces.
REQUIRED FORMS
In addition to full payment, the final acceptance of any participant is subject to receipt and review of all  Required Forms. For overnight adventures, you will find these forms attached to your confirmation email once you register online, and must be filled out by each member of your party as soon as possible.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
For your protection and ours, we strongly recommend purchasing Travel Insurance, which can provide coverage for trip cancellation/interruption, travel delay, medical expenses, emergency assistance, airfare, and baggage loss/delay to protect your financial investment. We recommend those with “cancel for any reason” clauses included. See reviews of some of the best Cancel For Any Reason Travel Insurance Options presented by Forbes or Squaremouth. Othe
Travel Insurance is the easiest and best way to protect yourself and our smaller non-profit organization against last-minute cancellations. We are happy to provide timely and accurate documentation for any insurance claim related to our trips when requested. Please keep in mind that when canceling a reservation, you must first contact the company that made your reservation with us.
PAYMENT SCHEDULE
Full payment is preferred for all backpacking trips. During check-out, you may pay a 50% deposit at the time of booking and the remaining 50% at least 30 days from departure. If you choose this option, you can either complete payment on your own using the self-service link in the confirmation email or you will be billed automatically at or shortly after the 30-day interval for the remaining amount. Any new multi-day booking made within 45 days of the start date must be paid in full. Feel free to contact us directly to set up any other payment plan.
When registering online, expect to pay a booking fee of 3.0% (capped at $30) and a processing fee of 2.7% (no cap). These fees can be avoided when paying by check and are non-refundable. For detailed information, see our Payment Options page.
CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICIES
Lasting Adventures reserves the right to cancel trips. If a trip is canceled due to circumstances beyond our control, a credit equal to the total amount paid will be issued. Lasting Adventures is not responsible for additional expenses incurred while preparing for the trip.
The following cancellation policy is only for trips booked directly through our official website, lastingadventures.com. If you have booked via a third-party website (such as TripAdvisor/Viator, BookYogaRetreats.com, or 57Hours), the policy below does not apply, and you are held to the third-party’s cancellation policy.
Multi-Day Adventures Cancellation Policy
48-Hour Risk-Free Cancellation Policy
Any reservation can be canceled within 48 hours of the initial booking, and we will issue a full refund, minus a 2.7% processing fee for credit card transactions. After 48 hours, our standard terms and conditions apply. To cancel, please email us at staff@lastingadventures.org or leave a voicemail at 800-513-8651. This policy does not apply if the trip is booked within 96 hours of the initial booking.
Fire/Smoke Cancellation Policy
Fire/smoke cancellations are considered circumstances beyond our control. If your chosen travel insurance does not cover fire/smoke cancellations, a credit equal to the total amount paid will be issued. If we cancel during your adventure with us, we will issue a non-refundable credit equal to the amount for the days not used. In both cases, these credits will be lifetime/transferable but non-refundable.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Departing from a Trip: Once a participant has joined a trip and the trip has begun, no refunds or credits will be issued, regardless of the reason for departure. Costs associated with assisting a participant with evacuating from the wilderness will be passed on to the participant. Travel Insurance is strongly recommended.
Minimum Participants: Our Guide Service multi-day trips require a minimum of three people.
If we fall short on these minimums, we will reach out to you 30 days before your scheduled start date with options that may include switching to another trip/date and/or a surcharge.
Infectious Illness Policy: Any participant on any program/trip who exhibits any signs or symptoms of a potential infectious illness will not be allowed to participate, and no refund or credits will be given. Many forms of Travel Insurance cover these circumstances. We ask that you screen yourself and/or your child before participating and contact us to cancel if you or your child shows any signs of illness. Health screenings can be expected in all youth programs.
Half Dome & Other Summits: Reaching the top of a summit, such as Half Dome, is risky and can be made even more dangerous by inclement weather. While we aim to get everyone to the top, summiting is not guaranteed. Lightning and rain can be deadly on exposed summits, and our experienced guides may have to call off a summit bid if the weather is unfavorable. You will not be allowed to summit with a Lasting Adventures permit if the experienced guide decides the conditions are not favorable.
Booking a trip before permits have been confirmed:Â All Lasting Adventures trips require permits and/or campsites obtained in advance at specific intervals, depending on the particular park. If you book a trip before these permits and/or campsites are obtained, and for any reason we are unable to gain the necessary permits and/or campsites, we will then work with you to select alternative dates or trips. A cancellation and full refund will always be the final option.
TRIP CHANGE/CREDIT POLICY
Once you book a trip with Lasting Adventures, the value you paid is valid toward switching to another trip in the current or upcoming year, pending available spaces on the new trip. Changes to your booking and conversion to credit must occur more than 30 days before your original start date, as well as 30 days before the trip you would like to switch to. Changes within 30 days are subject to fees. Once changed to a lifetime/transferable credit, credits are non-refundable and are a dollar-for-dollar value.
TRADITIONAL BACKPACKING
Lasting Adventures runs “traditional backpacking” trips. This is done without using porters, stock, or other outside assistance. For this trip, you will be expected to carry your personal gear, a share of the group gear, and food in a backpack. The weight is expected to be 30-50 lb., no more than ⅓ of your body weight.
As needed, participants should talk about their ability to fully participate in a backpacking trip with their doctor, including (but not limited to) carrying heavy loads over long distances and on strenuous, uneven terrain. The levels of difficulty listed on our website are relative and in no way constitute an objective declaration of difficulty. A regular physical exercise program is recommended before going on your adventure.
TRIP ITINERARIES
All trips are subject to itinerary changes for various reasons, including, but not limited to, permitting, weather, forest fires, park or public land closures, and/or road closures. In most situations, we will offer an alternative itinerary of equal value and quality or a credit equal to the total amount paid through the end of the following season. Payments are non-refundable for itinerary changes. If a trip is canceled before its start date due to circumstances beyond our control, a credit equal to the total amount paid will be issued.
STAFF SCHEDULES
Due to the nature of backpacking, our guides work long hours. To provide the best possible experience for our guests and guides, we limit our guides’ daily hours to 15. Guides will not be required to be available from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. unless the group agrees to a different period before this standard break. This varies with our summer camp programs, where outdoor educators are always available as needed.
During time off, our guides will be available for emergencies, but should be allowed to rest and not be considered available for other purposes outside of working hours. Please don’t ask guides for non-time-sensitive assistance during this period. Our guides are also entitled to take 10-minute breaks every four hours and 30-minute meal breaks every 5 hours, between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.  We appreciate your cooperation with these scheduling requirements.
COUPONS
See our Coupon Use Terms and Conditions.
